Refuse container

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a refuse container having a base element of four side walls and a bottom substantially surrounding a cavity and forming an opening at a top thereof. At least a first of said side walls provides a substantially uniform height that is greater than a substantially uniform height of a second and opposing side wall. A lid element slidably disposed on the base element so as to slide from a closed position substantially covering the opening of the base element to an open position substantially within the cavity of the base element and substantially parallel to one of said side walls.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/427,699 filed Dec. 28, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a storage container, in particular a refuse container, having a lid element that is slidably disposed therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Refuse container designs are well known in the art and are routinely used for the storage of trash or waste and for providing such waste to a curb-side for collection. In the latter context, such containers are ordinarily provided as large bins constructed from rigid plastic materials that are molded to form a container body with an opening at the top. The container is usually equipped with one or more handles and wheels allowing the user to easily position it at the curb or otherwise assist with emptying the contents container. While a detachable lid may be provided, in more recent designs the lid is typically attached to the container.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,899,468; 5,031,796; and 7,086,557, for example, provide an organic waste cart with the foregoing design. The lid is illustrated as being attached to the container by way of a hinge that is juxtaposed to the handle. To this end, a user may access the internal cavity of the container, and the waste therein, by raising the opposing side of the lid.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,451 provides an alternative configuration where the lid is horizontally slidable to open and close the container. As illustrated, the lid is affixed to an exterior side of the container by way of a track along the top. It is slidable disposed along the track toward and over one side of the container where it is adapted to swing downward.

One limitation with each of the foregoing designs, and indeed with all previously known designs of such containers, is that an exterior lid could be easily broken. During ordinary use and curb-side trash removal, the container is subject to rough handling. In crowded urban areas, in particular, the container is often thrown after waste collection or is otherwise treated in a manner inconsistent with the constraints design. As a result, the externally placed lid is sheared from the container or otherwise damaged or broken so as to be unusable. This subjects the waste contained therein to a multitude weather conditions, animal invasion, or the like and the noxious odors associated with the waste can no longer be contained therein.

Accordingly, a container is desirable in the art with design features that include a lid element that is able to withstand rough-handling and the shear forces associated with the foregoing. The instant invention, among other things, provides a solution to the instant problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention, a refuse container is provided comprising a base element having four side walls and a bottom substantially surrounding a cavity and forming an opening at a top thereof, at least a first of said side walls provides a substantially uniform height that is greater than a substantially uniform height of a second and opposing side wall. In one embodiment of the present invention, the four side walls form an opening that slopes upwardly from the second side wall to the first side wall.

The refuse container further comprises a lid element slidably disposed on the base element so as to slide from a closed position substantially covering the opening of the base element to an open position substantially within the cavity of the base element and substantially parallel to one of said side walls. In one embodiment of the present invention, when in the open position the lid element is substantially parallel and adjacent to said second side wall.

The lid element is formed from a flexible material and may be constructed as plurality of flexible slats coupled together in a close, parallel orientation. Additionally, the lid element contains a handle extending therefrom to allow a person to grasp the lid element when sliding it from an open to closed position and vice versa. In different embodiments of the present invention, the lid element is slidably disposed on a track assembly or a track and wheel assembly. In one embodiment of the present invention, the lid element is received within a housing when slidably disposed in said open position. The housing may comprise an interior wall in a parallel orientation to one side wall of the base element and is spaced slightly away from said one side wall of a sufficient distance to receive said lid element, wherein dimensions of said interior wall are slightly less than said one side wall. In one embodiment of the present invention, the one side wall adjacent to the housing is said second side wall of the base member.

In another embodiment of the present invention an overhang element extends above said opening and said lid element from at least one of said side walls. The overhang element may also extend above said opening and said lid element from at least three of said side walls. The refuse container may further comprise a plate coupled to one of said side walls, wherein the plate may contain personalized information. Additionally, a handle may extend from an external side of at least one of said side walls.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the refuse container has a set of two wheels, wherein each wheel may extend from a side wall at a point proximate to a junction between two adjacent sidewalls and the bottom such that the two wheels are positioned on opposing sides of the base element. Further, in another embodiment, at least one of the two adjacent sidewalls that make up the location of this junction is the second side wall.

The refuse container may also comprise an indented region on at least one of said side walls, wherein the indented region may be located on one side wall at or about a junction of the side wall with the bottom of the container. In certain aspects such an indent may be used to facilitate lifting the container, as discussed herein.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification along with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present refuse container in the upright, or vertical, and closed position according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present refuse container in the horizontal and open position according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a refuse container 10 that includes a base member 12 having an opening 36 for the insertion and removal of garbage and other materials in to and from a cavity 78. A slidably removable lid 14 covers the opening 36 and is adapted to slide in to the cavity 78. By allowing the lid 14 to slide in to the cavity 78 when the refuse container 10 is in the open position, the possibility of damage to the lid 14 is greatly reduced. Further, there is little risk that the lid 14 will become separated from the base member 12 during handling of the refuse container 10. Another advantage of the present invention is that it may be used in both the upright position like a traditional garbage container, or it may be used in the horizontal position. While in the horizontal position, garbage and other materials, such as leaves, may be swept in to the cavity 78.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, one embodiment of a refuse container 10 is illustrated, the base member 12 has a front wall 16, a rear wall 18, two side walls 30 a, 30 b, and a bottom wall 50, together, forming a cavity 78 within the base member 12 and an opening 36 along its top. A partial top wall 34 may be optionally provided and extend substantially perpendicular to the rear and side walls and may be defined by edges 54 a, 54 b, 70 and the front wall 16. In one aspect, the partial top wall is provided as a lip extending from the side and rear walls, which may act to insulate the wall edges from damage.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the front wall 16 has a greater height than the rear wall 18, resulting in the top wall 34, the opening 36, and the lid 14 sloping at a downward angle from the front wall 16 to the rear wall 18 as shown. While the presently depicted embodiment shows a setup in which the lid 14 opens by sliding in a downward direction towards the rear wall 18, it is understood that in other embodiments of the present invention the lid 14 may transition to an open position by sliding from the rear wall 18 to the front wall 16. Similarly, the lid 14 may be oriented to slide in a direction from the side wall 30 a to the opposing side wall 30 b or vice versa.

As illustrated, in certain embodiments, the front wall 16, rear wall 18, and side walls 30 a, 30 b extend downwardly from the opening 36 to a bottom edge 74. While the front and rear walls are illustrated as being in a parallel orientation, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. In alternative embodiments of the present invention not shown in the figures, at least one of the front wall 16, the rear wall 18 and the sidewalls 30 a, 30 b that extend upwardly from the bottom wall 50 are at an angle outwardly from the bottom wall 50. Thus, according to these embodiments, the opening 36 of the refuse container 10 is larger than the bottom wall 50 to permit easier insertion and removal of garbage and other materials in to and from the cavity 78. In further embodiments, the walls may extend from bottom wall 50 in alternative orientations that are generally known in the art.

The side walls 30 a, 30 b may also contain an indented region 44 along the region adjacent to bottom wall 50. In other embodiments of the present invention, the front wall 16, the side walls 30 a, 30 b and/or the rear wall 18 may additionally feature one or more ridges running horizontally across the respective wall. The indented region 44 and ridges provide stability and strength to the base member 12. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the junctions at which point the respective walls 16, 18, 30 a, 30 b and 34 meet are rounded. It is understood, however, that in other embodiments of the present invention the side walls 30 a, 30 b do not contain indented regions or ridges and are instead substantially flat. Further, in other embodiments of the present invention, the junctions at which the respective walls meet are not rounded but are instead squared off.

The front wall, rear wall, side walls, and bottom may be integrally formed using standard mechanisms known in the art. Each may be formed using standard materials and methods, such as, but not limited to generally rigid polymers or co-polymers including polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, or the like. The container may also be equipped with drainage holes to prevent the accumulation of water and/or allow for venting of the cavity 78. In one non-limiting example, the rear wall 18 may contain a plurality of drainage holes 48 at or proximate to the container bottom. Such a placement of the drainage holes, is not limiting to the present invention and drainage holes may be placed at any alternative apparent to a skilled artisan for accomplished the foregoing effects.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the base member 12 contains a partial internal wall 56 that extends substantially underneath and along the top wall 34 from the inside of the side walls 30 a, 30 b to an outer edge 58. The outer edge 58 is located directly below the outer edge 54 of top wall 34. The internal wall 56 is disposed a sufficient distance below the top wall 34 to provide a pair of tracks 38 to receive the lid 14. Similarly, an inner wall 40, positioned at a sufficient distance parallel to rear wall 18, forms a housing 20 within the cavity 78. A sufficient distance for the purposes of the present invention is one that is slightly greater than the thickness of lid 14.

As depicted in FIGS. 3 and 6, the tracks 38 connect directly to the housing 20. The friction between the tracks 38 and the lid 14 maintains the refuse container 10 in the closed position. When the refuse container 10 transitions from the closed position, as shown in FIG. 3, to the open position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the lid 14 slides along tracks 38 in to the housing 20, which in turn receives the lid 14. By allowing the lid 14 to slide in to the housing 20 when the refuse container 10 is in the open position, the possibility of damage to the lid 14 is greatly reduced.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lid 14 is formed from a plurality of flexible slats 24 coupled together in a close, parallel orientation. One skilled in the art would appreciate, however, that the lid 14 may be made of any suitably flexible material that would allow the lid 14 to be slidably received in the housing 20. Such slats may be provided as a single, piece of flexible material, or otherwise as discrete slats coupled together using standard mechanisms known in the art. The slats may be formed using standard materials, such as, but not limited to rigid polymer, including polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, or the like. Additional embodiments of such slats will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated by FIGS. 1-6, a track assembly is used to allow the sliding of the lid 14 from an open position to a closed position and vice versa. As shown in FIG. 4, the width of the lid 14 is greater than the width of the opening 36, thus enabling the lateral edges 64 of the lid 14 to be placed in the tracks 38. The length of the lid 14 extends from a front edge 66 to a back edge 68 and is of sufficient length that when the refuse container 10 is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 6, the back edge 68 of the lid 14 extends in to the housing 20. This allows for easier transitioning between the open and closed positions. A lid handle 26 is centrally located at or about the front edge 66 of the lid 14. The lid handle 26 serves at least two important purposes. First, by grasping the lid handle 26, a person can easily slide the lid 14 from the closed position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, to the open position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, and vice versa. Second, when transitioning to the open position, the lid handle 26 is situated so as to stop the lid from completely sliding in to the housing 20 by contacting the internal edge 70 of the top wall 34 as shown in FIG. 6. A protuberance (not shown) is located on the side of the handle that contacts internal edge 70, and is sized to fit in to an indentation (not shown) located on the underside of top wall 34 near internal edge 70. The height of the protuberance is such that as the lid 14 slides to the fully open position, the protuberance briefly slides along the underside of top wall 34 before entering the indentation. When the protuberance enters the indentation, the lid is secured in the open position. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, other means known in the art for securing the lid 14 in the open position may be utilized.

While the foregoing track system assembly is utilized in the present embodiment of the invention, it is understood that any similar system known in the art that allows the sliding of the lid 14 in to the housing 20, such as a track and wheel assembly, may also be used in the present invention. Further, the housing 20 need not be present in alternative embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the front wall 16 may contain one or more protrusions 84 that run vertically down the face of the wall. The protrusions 84 serve at least two purposes. First, they increase the structural strength of the front wall 16. Second, as shown in FIG. 6, only the protrusions 84 contact the ground when the refuse container 10 is in the horizontal position. This spares the front wall 16 any wear and tear that may result from the refuse container 10 being placed in the horizontal position. In alternative embodiments, however, the protrusions 84 are absent and the surface of front wall 16 is substantially flat.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 6, the front wall 16 may also include an overhang 22 that extends vertically above the top wall 34. The overhang 22 is tapered at an end 80 located furthest above the top wall 34. The overhang may be provided as a separate elements coupled to the front wall or, alternatively, it may be integrally molded with the container. To this end, the overhang may be formed using the same standard materials of the container, or may otherwise include alternative materials known in the art. The functionality of the overhang 22 is most evident when the refuse container is placed in a horizontal position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. In this position with the lid 14 in the open position as shown in FIG. 2, garbage and other materials may be swept over the tapered end 80 of the overhang 22 and in to the cavity 78 through opening 36. Additionally, the overhang 22 acts as a stop when closing the lid 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

A moving facility 32 includes the base member 10 having a pair of wheel wells 42 a, 42 b formed at the junctions between each side wall 30 a, 30 b, the rear wall 18 and the bottom wall 50. A pair of wheels 52 a, 52 b is provided. Each wheel 52 a, 52 b is rotatively mounted within a respective wheel well 42 a, 42 b and, as shown in FIG. 5, the wheels 52 a, 52 b are connected axially by an axle 46. Each wheel 52 a, 52 b contains a concentric opening (not shown) that is sized to receive the axle 46. To prevent the axle 46 from moving in any direction other than rotationally and to keep the wheels 52 a, 52 b attached to the axle 46, fasteners 62 are utilized. While FIGS. 1-6 show the wheel wells 42 a, 42 b and the moving facility 32 located at the bottom of the rear wall 18, according to other embodiments of the present invention, the wheel wells 42 and the moving facility 32 may be located at the bottom of the front wall 16 or either side wall 30 a or 30 b. Additionally, an axle need not necessarily connect the two wheels 52 a, 52 b. Instead, in alternative embodiments of the present invention, the wheels 52 a, 52 b are individually mounted in the wheel wells 42 a, 42 b and are able to rotate independent of each other.

In another embodiment of the present invention not depicted in the figures, the axle 46 is partially contained in tubular sleeves (not shown) that extend from the inside edges 72 of each wheel well 42 towards the longitudinal center of the axle 46. These tubular sleeves are used to both protect the axle 46 and maintain the axle 46 in place.

As shown in FIG. 5, preferably, but not necessarily, the width of the wheels 52 a, 52 b does not extend beyond the width of the wheel wells 42 a, 42 b. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, each wheel 52 a, 52 b projects to the outermost planes of the bottom wall 50 and the rear wall 18, respectively. This configuration allows bottom wall 50 to remain flush with the ground when the refuse container 10 is in the upright position.

A pull handle 28 is located on the rear wall 18 above the wheels 52 a, 52 b, and, as depicted in FIG. 1, may be located near the top of rear wall 18. Because the bottom edge 74 of the rear wall 18 only extends to the midpoint of wheels 52 a, 52 b, a person can grasp the pull handle 28 and tilt the refuse container 10 rearwardly to move the wheels 52 a, 52 b along a generally flat horizontal surface. Additionally, one skilled in the art would appreciate that in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention as described above, the pull handle 28 may be placed on any wall on which the which the wheels 52 a, 52 b are located under. Further embodiments of the present invention may also include protrusions substantially lined up with the respective horizontal ends 82 of the pull handle 28 descend vertically to the bottom of the wall on which the pull handle 28 is located. These protrusions provide structural support to the base member 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plate 76 may be attached to the exterior of front wall 16. The plate may contain personalized information such as the name and address of the owner of the refuse container 10.

In another embodiment of the present invention not shown in the figures, the bottom wall 50 contains an area of indentation that provides structural stability and strength to base member 12. In this embodiment, only part of the bottom wall 50 remains flush against a substantially flat surface when the refuse container 10 is in the upright position.

Operation of the refuse container 10 can best be understood by referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6. FIG. 1 illustrates the refuse container 10 in the upright, or vertical, and closed position. To use the refuse container 10 while it is in this upright and closed position, a user may grasp lid handle 26 and pull or push the handle towards the rear wall 18. As the user moves the lid handle 26 towards the rear wall 18, the lid 14 will slide in to the housing 20 until the lid handle 26 is stopped by the edge 70. When this occurs, an opening 36 is created that allows for the user to place garbage and other materials in the cavity 78. When the user is done placing the garbage or other materials in the cavity, the opening 36 is closed by the user once again grasping lid handle 26 and moving it towards front wall 16.

The upright position is ideal for allowing a user to transport the refuse container 10. To do so, the user first grasps pull handle 28 and pulls rearward and down to tilt the refuse container 10 so that the majority of bottom wall 50 is no longer touching the ground. When the refuse container is in this tilted position, the user may then push or pull on the pull handle 28 to move the refuse container 10 in the desired direction.

FIGS. 2 and 6 illustrate how the refuse container 10 may also be used in the horizontal position. To place the refuse container 10 in the horizontal position, the user may grasp pull handle 28 and then lift up and push forward to cause the refuse container 10 to rotate about the junction between the front wall 16 and the bottom wall 50. As shown in FIG. 6, when in the horizontal position, the protrusions 84 are flush with the ground. If the refuse container 10 is in the closed position, the lid 14 may be moved to the open position in the same way as described above. Once in the open position, as shown in FIG. 2, garbage and other materials, such as leaves, may be swept over the tapered end 80 of the overhang 22 through the opening 36 and in to the cavity 78. Once the user has finished sweeping, the user may close the lid 14 by once again grasping the lid handle 26 and moving it and the lid 14 down towards front wall 16. Once the refuse container is in the closed position, the user may grasp the pull handle 28 and lift up and rearward to bring the refuse container 10 to the upright position.

It is understood that the methods of using the present invention may be adapted to the alternative embodiments of the invention described above.

There is thus provided a refuse container with a slidably removable lid that remains within the container when the container is in the open position, which fulfills all of the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, alterations, modifications and other uses and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification together with the accompanying drawings. All such changes, alterations and modifications that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims that follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A refuse container comprising: a base element having four side walls and a bottom substantially surrounding a cavity and forming an opening at a top thereof, at least a first of said side walls provides a substantially uniform height that is greater than a substantially uniform height of a second and opposing side wall; and a lid element slidably disposed on the base element so as to slide from a closed position substantially covering the opening of the base element to an open position substantially within the cavity of the base element and substantially parallel to one of said side walls.
 2. The refuse container of claim 1 wherein the lid element is formed from a flexible material.
 3. The refuse container of claim 1 wherein the lid element is formed from a plurality of flexible slats coupled together in a close, parallel orientation.
 4. The refuse container of claim 1 wherein the lid element contains a handle extending therefrom.
 5. The refuse container of claim 1 wherein the lid element is slidably disposed on a track assembly or a track and wheel assembly.
 6. The refuse container of claim 1 wherein the lid element slides from a closed position substantially covering the opening of the base element to an open position substantially within the cavity of the base element, wherein in the open position the lid element is substantially parallel and adjacent to said second side wall.
 7. The refuse container of claim 1 wherein said lid element is received within a housing when slidably disposed in said open position.
 8. The refuse container of claim 7 wherein said housing comprises an interior wall in a parallel orientation to one side wall of the base element and is spaced slightly away from said one side wall of a sufficient distance to receive said lid element, wherein dimensions of said interior wall are slightly less than said one side wall.
 9. The refuse container of claim 7 wherein said housing comprises an interior wall in a parallel orientation to said second side wall of the base element and is spaced slightly away from said second side wall of a sufficient distance to receive said lid element, wherein dimensions of said interior wall are slightly less than said second side wall.
 10. The refuse container of claim 1 wherein the four side walls form an opening that slopes upwardly from the second side wall to the first side wall.
 11. The refuse container of claim 1 further comprising an overhang element extending above said opening and said lid element from at least one of said side walls.
 12. The refuse container of claim 1 further comprising an overhang element extending above said opening and said lid element from at least three of said side walls.
 13. The refuse container of claim 1 further comprising a handle extending from an external side of at least one of said side walls.
 14. The refuse container of claim 1 further comprising a set of two wheels.
 15. The refuse container of claim 14 wherein each wheel extends from a side wall at a point proximate to a junction between two adjacent sidewalls and the bottom such that the two wheels are positioned on opposing sides of the base element.
 16. The refuse container of claim 15 wherein at least one of the two adjacent sidewalls is the second side wall.
 17. The refuse container of claim 1 further comprising a plate coupled to one of said side walls.
 18. The refuse contain of claim 17 wherein the plate contains personalized information.
 19. The refuse container of claim 1 further comprising an indented region on at least one of said side walls.
 20. The refuse container of claim 19 wherein the indented region is on one side wall at or about a junction of the side wall with the bottom.
 21. A refuse container comprising: a base element having four side walls and a bottom substantially surrounding a cavity and forming an opening at a top thereof, at least a first of said side walls provides a substantially uniform length that is greater than a substantially uniform length of a second and opposing side wall such that the four side walls form an opening that slopes upwardly from the second side wall to the first side wall; and a lid element formed from a plurality of parallel slats slidably disposed on the base element so as to slide from a closed position substantially covering the opening of the base element to an open position substantially within the cavity of the base element and substantially parallel to one of said side walls.
 22. A refuse container comprising: a base element having four side walls and a bottom substantially surrounding a cavity and forming an opening at a top thereof, at least a first of said side walls provides a substantially uniform length that is greater than a substantially uniform length of a second and opposing side wall such that the four side walls form an opening that slopes upwardly from the second side wall to the first side wall; and a lid element formed from one or more flexible slats slidably disposed on the base element so as to slide from a closed position substantially covering the opening of the base element to an open position substantially within a housing within the cavity of the base element and substantially parallel and adjacent to one of said side walls. 